Flooring and ceiling clamp



(No Model.)

E. A. REED. FLOORING AND GBILING GLAMP. f

A 1l... fw 6 r 4 s: .l l i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVARDS A. REED, OF OLIVER SPRINGS, TENNESSEE.Y

FLOORING AND' CEILING CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent No. 334,611, dated January 19,1886.

Application filed November 12, 1885.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EDwARDs A. REED, of Oliver Springs, in the county of Anderson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flooring and Ceiling Clamps; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and iu which- Figures l and 2 are perspective views taken from opposite sides of my improved ooring and ceiling clamp. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same, and Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the inner side of one of the jaws of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention has relation to clamps used by carpenters and builders in laying floors or ceilings, or in fastening weather-boarding to the uprights or joists of a building; and it con'- sists in the improved spring-clamp, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

My improved clamp consists of two jaws, A B, upon the outer ends, and preferably integral with a bent spring, C. The jaws are of the conguration shown in the drawings-that is to say, with sloping sides, and an enlargej ment or head at their outer ends, the inner side of which is cut away to form the rounded shoulder D. The inclined sides are slotted, as shown at F and G, and the slot G in the head or jaw B has an offset or shoulder, H, adapted to form a catch for the lever I, the outer end of which has its fulcrum in the slotted head A upon the pin J. That end of the level` which projects into the slot F has a series of apertures, K, through any one of which B, which face each other, are inserted two steel points, L, flattened on one side, and from Serial No. 182,552. (No model.)

the inner side of the=jaw B projects a stud or point, N, one side of which is rounded, as Shown.

This device, which may be made of wood or metal, (the points L, however, always being made of steel,) is used in the following manner: The lever being released from the notch or shoulder H, the two heads of the clamp will spring open owing to the tension of the spring when it is placed over the overlapping edges of the boards or over the edge of the board and the joist underneath, as the case may be, and by then forcing the lever toward the upper end of slots G, locking it against the shoulder or offset H, the two jaws will be forced together, so as to firmly clamp the board or boards. The inwardly-projecting stud or pin N prevents the jaws from coming too close together, and the rounded shoulders D on the inner sides of the binding-jaws permitrthe .clamp being turned while in its locked position, so as to make room for the nail which is to be driven. After the nail has been inserted and driven home, the clamp may be released in a moment of time simply by disengaging the lever from the shoulder or offset H.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States-- The combination, in a flooring and ceiling clamp, of a bent spring having the slotted clamping-heads at its free ends, said heads being provided with the steel points L, rounded shoulders D, inwardly-projecting gage pin or stud N, slots F and G, and the offset H, in combination with the lever or handle I, and fulcrum-pin J, whereby said lever` has an adjustable fulcrum in one of the heads or jaws, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

Inv testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARDS A. REED.

Witnesses:

A. C. E'NeLrsn, GEO. SINCLAIR. f, 

